BEIJING – Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang on Sunday congratulated Singaporean leaders on the 50th anniversary of the founding of Singapore.

In a message addressed to Singaporean President Tony Tan Keng Yam and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Xi said that China and Singapore are good neighbors and that the two countries have witnessed enhanced political mutual trust, ever expanding practical cooperation and more people-to-people and cultural exchanges over the 25 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations.

Xi expressed China’s willingness to work with Singapore to inject impetus to bilateral ties and lift them to a new level.

Li, in a message to his Singaporean counterpart, also suggested to strengthen political mutual trust and deepen practical cooperation so as to elevate China-Singapore relations to a new height.